David Vitter’s ethics complaint dismissed

The Senate Select Committee on Ethics has promptly dismissed a complaint filed by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) alleging that Senate Democratic leaders had unduly sought to pressure senators to kill one of his proposals.

Vitter has been demanding a vote on his proposal to eliminate an Obama administration plan to allow the federal government to help pay for the health insurance coverage of lawmakers and their aides.

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In response, Democratic senators privately floated several options to hit back at Vitter — including one that would have prevented senators and aides from obtaining the contributions if there was “probable cause” that they solicited prostitutes. In 2007, Vitter’s phone number turned up in the records of a Washington prostitution ring.

Democrats were also weighing another amendment to include broader language that would deny contributions to those found to have engaged in “improper conduct reflecting discreditably on the congressional office involved.” And a third proposal would deny coverage to lawmakers who voted for the Vitter plan, even if it doesn’t become law.

Vitter seized on the revelations in a POLITICO report, saying that the plan to deny coverage to lawmakers who voted for his plan amounted to improper and unethical pressure tactics to oppose his proposal. And he filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee targeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) for acting improperly.

But on Tuesday, the Senate Ethics Committee — which Boxer chairs — dismissed the complaint.

“The complaint offers no concrete information to support the allegation that Sen. Reid, Sen. Boxer, or their staffs were involved with the legislative language drafted by unknown parties that you described,” stated John Sassaman, chief counsel and staff director for the panel. “Further, an inquiry involving speculation over draft legislative language not part of any bill or any proceedings would be unprecedented.”

No further action will be taken, the committee said.

A spokesman for Vitter mocked the Ethics Committee’s action.

“Even though,” spokesman Luke Bolar said, “POLITICO reported that the proposed amendment was formally drafted and that that formal draft was affirmatively leaked to POLITICO, the Ethics Committee counsel dismissed the complaint with no investigation whatsoever because it was a ‘mere allegation with no evidence.’ The Committee also ignored the demand that Senator Boxer – who oversees the works of this counsel – recuse herself. Boy, they’re really doing their job.”

Boxer’s spokesman said she was not responsible for the dismissal.

“Senator Boxer chose not to be involved in the decision-making process regarding this complaint,” said spokesman Zachary Coile.